This
well-loved psalm was written by David when in the Wilderness of Paran after
Samuel's death. For "Paran" see map.

.1
¶ <<A Song of degrees.>> I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,
from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from
the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

The phrase that ends verse
1 is better understood as a question. Some worshiped in high places (on
hilltops). The psalm writer didn't. He worshiped the creator of
the hills ps09002.
We see the concept in the confession at the end of Jeremiah 3 je0323.

3 He will not suffer
thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not
slumber.The
psalm is divided according to its literary structure. Verse 3 includes
the lighter type.

The foot being moved is walking
away from the path of righteousness. Notice that we change from the first
person to the second – from "I" to "you."

he that
keepeth thee will not slumber..4
Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep..5
The LORD is thy keeper:
the LORD is thy shade upon
thy right hand.

What a powerful concept!
I love this God who is always ready to help us. The Lord keeps us if
we continue to place our full trust in Him jude24.

the LORD is thy shade upon
thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not
smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

We don't think of the moon
as causing damage. The psalmist may be considering the powers of darkness
– of the forces of Satan.

7 The LORD shall preserve
thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8 The LORD shall preserve
thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

The Lord will be our protection
from the sun (v6) which may be used by Him as a curse on sun worshippers.

A
1a I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,B
1b from whence cometh my help [?].C
2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

D
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:

Chorus
he that keepeth thee will not slumber.Chorus
and audience 4 Behold, he that keepeth
Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.Chorus
5 The LORD is thy keeper:

E
the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

F
7 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil:G
7b he shall preserve thy soul.H
8 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this
time forth, and even for evermore.

Suggestions:*
ABC and E could be 4 women/girls (B to say the phrase as a question)*
D and FGH could be 4 men/boys*
Chorus could be all except the audience, or it could be another group or
all 3 lines could be the audience. The pace might be slowed for the audience.*
Position on platform (as seen by the audience) ABC D - E FGH.
D could set the pace for the audience and chorus or another person could.*
Timing: ABC and FGH should speak without breaks between as a single person
would speak. Pauses would come as shown by the blank lines above.*
Preparation: The participants, except the audience, should practice ahead
of time. The whole thing should be explained to the audience before it
starts. Participants should speak with expression and, if possible, memorize
their parts.*
Meaning. In order to not lose the sacred meaning of the text, selected
participants could say a few words about the their part. Or a sermon could
discuss it. Appropriate dress or choir robes would be good.*
Other: The NIV or NKJV could be used. Everyone will enjoy this activity
and it could be done twice in a row.